"It's a tremendous honor, and I look forward to teaming up with the people over there, including Joe Moore, and particularly in the sports department with John Veneri and Wailele Sallas," Leahey said. "KITV was a great experience and great learning ground."

"Now, it's time to move on and take another step forward in my career."

Leahey will receive a three-year deal, starting at about $70,000 and escalating each of the following years. The position has been vacant since Alema Harrington left.

A noncompete agreement will keep Leahey off the air for three months.

Leahey has extensive background in the business, starting radio play-by-play for high school girls basketball while a senior at Iolani School.

He also was a play-by-play announcer for University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine volleyball for two seasons.

Leahey will be allowed to pursue radio opportunities while at KHON.

Leahey is the son of Jim, long-time voice of University of Hawai'i sports for K5, and grandson of Chuck, who was voice of Hawai'i sports in the 1960s and '70s.

"A lot of people assumed that my dad coached me at a young age," Leahey said. "To tell you the truth, it's only been in recent years that my dad has bought into the fact I'm in the same business as him.

"As far as tradition goes, I consider my grandfather and father, in their era, the standard setters in sports broadcasting in Hawai'i. And I'm just trying to do as much as I can ... and hopefully, (I'll) continue to bring respect to the Leahey name."

Leahey played on Iolani's state championship basketball team in 1994. The team was led by Todd King and Adam Wong.

"My career was injury plagued," he said. "I was destined for the media league."